Establish a learning network for JPMorgan Chase’s grantees and other leading experts to share best practices

Share lessons learned from these programs with the broader field of scholars, local leaders, practitioners, and policymakers

JPM has granted Urban Institute ten million dollars to conduct this effort, the largest corporate donation in Urban’s history. According to Urban Institute’s CEO, Sarah Rosen Wartell, their work is meant to really get underneath JPM’s philanthropic impact by asking hard questions:

“‘Is this program really working?’ ‘Have lives improved?’ ‘How can we do this better?’ JPMorgan Chase is committing to learn from the answers we provide, and our organizations each will play an important role in sharing that knowledge across sectors.”

JPM is looking at this like any investment that the firm might make, with analysis and feedback that will inform their future strategy. According to Peter Scher, who is JPM’s head of corporate responsibility, “Over the next five years, our firm will deploy $1 billion dollars towards our philanthropic programs focused on creating economic growth and expanding access to opportunity.”

While JPM’s engagement with Urban Institute will take place over a couple of years, both entities stated that they will share findings through publicly available reports, briefings, and convenings later in 2015.—John Brothers

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